Story Benita Teo
Have you always wanted to trade in your school blouse and skirt
for military fatigues and join Dad for his In-Camp Training
(ICT)?
Perhaps you often find yourself listening with envy as your male
colleagues share stories about their NS days, and wish you could be
one of them.
Or maybe you recently made Singapore your home, and would like
to do your part in keeping it safe for your family and
friends.
You'll now have the chance to fulfil these wishes.
Come 2015, the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) will welcome more
people into its family of Regulars, Operationally Ready National
Servicemen (NSmen) and
Full-time National Servicemen (NSFs).
With the establishment of the SAF Volunteer Corps (SAFVC), non
NS-liable Singaporeans and Permanent Residents (PRs) - such as
women, first-generation PR sand new citizens - will now be able to
contribute to national defence, show support for NS, and deepen
their understanding and ownership of national defence.
During his Committee to Strengthen NS Press Conference on 22
May, Defence Minister Dr Ng Eng Hen noted that through the
year-long process of engaging the public and listening to their
ideas and feedback, committee members met with "many, who do not
have NS obligations, but wanted to contribute to national defence".
Thus, the SAFVC, a uniformed volunteer scheme, was set up following
the committee's recommendation.
The SAFVC logo (top) and its predecessor the SVC logo
(above).
The SAFVC was officially set up in end-September, and is helmed by
Commander SAFVC, Colonel (COL) Mike Tan.
Headquarters (HQ) SAFVC is located in Maju Camp, where training
will also be held.
The SAFVC may be new, but it follows in the footsteps of a long
and distinguished tradition of volunteerism for national
defence.
Beginning with the Singapore Volunteer Rifle Corps (a private
organisation established in 1854 to combat lawlessness), the corps
of volunteers evolved over the next 48 years into the Singapore
Volunteer Corps (SVC), the SAFVC's predecessor.
The SVC played an important role forming the Singapore Military
Forces in 1953 together with Regulars and part-time national
servicemen.
The volunteer units were then subsumed into the People's Defence
Force (PDF) in 1965.
With the subsequent growth of NS and the SAF, the number of
volunteers declined, and the last Volunteer battalion, 101 PDF,
held its final parade in 1984.
As homage to the illustrious 160-year history of Volunteer
Military Service in Singapore, the SAFVC logo incorporates elements
from the original SVC coat of arms, such as the circular shield,
banner and laurel.
Applications to the SAFVC began on 13 Oct and within a week, more
than 200 Singaporeans and PRs had dropped off their forms at the
Army Recruitment Centre (ARC) or signed up online. Dr Ng revealed
this on his Facebook page, adding that he was "happy with the
encouraging response so far".
COL Tan echoed Dr Ng's comments, remarking that the growing
numbers were indeed encouraging. The SAFVC plans to recruit three
batches of volunteers in the first year, with 30 to 50 enlistees in
the inaugural batch commencing training on 23 Mar 2015.
After being shortlisted, applicants will have to undergo an
interview as well as a medical screening before they are accepted
into the SAFVC. COL Tan plans to oversee the interview process, and
recognised that it would be an onerous task.
"Certainly, the SAFVC is not for everybody; (for instance) if
you are not the outdoorsy type, you may find that it is not your
cup of tea. There are other MINDEF (Ministry of Defence) volunteer
schemes (available).
"That's why the interview is so important - I want to make sure
that the volunteers we select really want to be here, and will also
fit in with us." He added that motivation and aptitude are crucial
factors in determining the applicants' suitability.
COL Tan also noted that although there is no minimum commitment
period for volunteers, those who indicate that they are prepared to
commit for the long term will be considered more favourably.
Upon successful application, volunteers will receive their
letters of enlistment and embark on a three-phase training
programme, designed to give them a taste of Basic Military Training
(BMT) and equip them with the skills necessary for their respective
roles.
The SAFVC Volunteers (or SVs, as the enlistees are known) will
undergo a two-week Basic Training (BT), followed by a one-week
Qualification Training (QT). Some will be required to attend
another week-long Advanced Training (AT) to further prepare them
for their vocations.
The two-week stay-in BT is a module common to all SVs.
It aims to develop in the SVs a basic appreciation of the SAF
and understanding of national defence.
The SVs will have the opportunity to try their hands at firing a
Singapore Assault Rifle 21, throw a live hand grenade, and even go
through a field camp.
Training will be supervised by COL Tan, and led by a Head of
Training and a company commander. They will be assisted by a team
of experienced trainers from BMT Centre and parts of the
Infantry.
COL Tan emphasised that "the idea is not to train someone from a
civilian to a soldier; that will take nine weeks (the length of
BMT). However, the two weeks is sufficient for them to have an
introduction to NS and learn about the military ethos and what it
means to wear a uniform".
Currently, there are plans to offer the modular option of
completing the BT over a series of weekend days instead of the
continuous fortnight stay-in. This option would be helpful for
volunteers with heavy school, work or family commitments.
Although the curricula for both the continuous and modular
options are similar and will equip the SVs with the necessary
knowledge and skills, COL Tan encouraged those who could afford the
time to choose the stay-in option for "the most complete
experience", as it includes the field camp component.
A unique rank structure was created for the SAFVC Volunteers
(SVs). As their contribution are different from those of Regulars
and NSmen, there is no comparison between the SV rank and others in
the SAF. It also differentiates them from SAF Volunteers, former
NSmen who continue to service past the statutory age.
New enlistees begin as SV (Trainees), and will be promoted to
SV1 upon completion of their Qualification Training. Subsequent
promotions are dependent on years of service, as well as conduct
and performance.
After BT, SVs then move on to QT, where they will train under
the respective domain experts to prepare for their specific roles.
One of the trainers they might meet is Military Expert (ME) 5-1 See
Yen Ling, a Nursing Officer at the SAF Medical Training Institute.
ME5-1 See trains doctors and medics when they return for their
annual ICT, and will train SVs who sign up as medical trainers.
Elaborating on the second phase of training for medical
trainers, ME5-1 See said: "As medical professionals in hospitals,
the types of cases they see are different from those in the
military.
During QT, they will be introduced to the Medical Corps and
become familiar with our work environment, such as the equipment,
simulation labs and outfield environments.
"Upon completion of the QT phase, SVs will be considered
full-fledged SAFVC Volunteers and can begin to be deployed to SAF
units. However, some roles, such as the Auxiliary Security Trooper
(AST), will require the AT.
While AST trainees will gain proficiency in rifle handling and
learn when to make use of their weapons during the QT, an
additional week at the AT is necessary for them to acquire the
required knowledge and learn the application of their skills - such
as apprehending and securing targets.
Service Benefits
SVs can choose from 17 roles in nine categories. They will
typically be called up to serve seven days annually, alongside
servicemen and women from the Army, Navy and Air Force, donning the
SAFVC formation patch on their respective green, grey or blue
uniforms. Some roles, such as those in engineering, medicine or
law, require prior work experience, while others like the AST,
InfoMedia Staff and Bridge Watchkeeper are open to all.
Working with SVs will be a new experience for Regulars, NSmen
and NSFs alike. However, COL Tan believes the experience will be
beneficial to all.
ME5-1 See agreed: "I look forward to working alongside the SVs,
because they will be able to share their experience in their
respective fields with us. This will, in turn, enrich our training
as well."
During call-ups, the SVs will report directly to the various SAF
units which they are attached to. They will receive instructions
from their Regular and national servicemen commanders.
"The section or mission commander is expected to take charge of
the mission and guide the SV in becoming an effective member of the
team. This is because he has undergone two years of NS and several
ICTs and is therefore better trained and more experienced (in
fulfilling missions)," COL Tan explained.
He added: "This is why NS will always be the cornerstone of
national defence and will not be replaced by the SAFVC. They are
trained much more rigorously."
Nonetheless, "We hope the NSmen will come to respect and
appreciate the SVs because, while they may not be as intensively
trained, they come with life and career experience," said COL Tan.
"They will also bring another set of eyes and perspectives to
situations that have become commonplace to us."
Interested volunteers may obtain their hardcopy forms from ARC,
or download the electronic forms from the SAFVC website (www.mindef.gov.sg/safvc)
and email them to [email protected]. Applicants
must be 18 to 45 years old, and will be eligible to serve from the
ages of 18 to 50.
